Health classification of shell production areas on the coast of Ille-et-Vilaine

All professional areas for the production and relaying of live shells (farming and professional fishing areas) are classified as health, defined by prefectural decree (of 8 August 2019). This is based on microbiological analyses of shellfish from these areas, using Escherichia coli (E. coli) as an indicator of faecal contamination (in number of E. coli per 100 g of flesh and intervalvary liquid — CLI). Environmental contaminants are also sought: lead, cadmium, mercury, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dioxins and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). The classification of the areas distinguishes 3 groups of shellfish in terms of their physiology: Group 1: marine gastropods (bulots, bigcorns, abalone, crepidules, etc.), echinoderms (hurchins, sea cucumbers) and tunicates (violets); Group 2: excavating bivalves, i.e. filtering bivalve molluscs whose habitat consists of sediments (pallams, hulls, etc.); Group 3: non-husker bivalves, i.e. other filtering bivalve molluscs (oysters, mussels, scallops, etc.). The European Regulation provides that non-filtering marine gastropods (e.g. bulots) and pectinidae (e.g. scallops) may be harvested outside classified areas, subject to certain conditions. Three quality classes The quality of professional production areas is regularly assessed by analysing data from area monitoring, as a general rule over the last three years. The classification rules are laid down in Regulation (EC) No 854/2004 of 29 April 2004 and provide for three quality classes:A, B and C. Documentation link: http://www.atlas-sanitaire-coquillages.fr/classements-sanitaires/informations